CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. On the occasion, he handed over appointment letters to 315 newly elected Block Garden Officers and laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several schemes of the Agriculture Department.
He said that horticulture schemes are being run in the state under the fourth agriculture road map and these office bearers selected from Bihar Public Service Commission have been appointed to take these schemes to the farmers. The Chief Minister also symbolically handed over appointment letters to some selected candidates.
CM Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of the Agriculture Engineering College to be built at Ara in Bhojpur district at a cost of Rs. 144.72 crore. The institute will be a centre for research, training and dissemination of agricultural technologies along with B. Tech (Agricultural Engineering) studies. The building will have an administrative block, classrooms, library, hostel and workshop facilities.
He also laid the foundation stone of 62 Sub Divisional level Krishi Bhavans to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 55.26 crore. In these buildings, information about all the services and schemes related to agriculture will be accessible to the farmers at one place. It will also be a medium to improve communication between farmers and the government.
The Chief Minister also launched the ‘Bihar Krishi’ mobile app, through which farmers will get information about the market price of crops, plant protection, weather information, soil testing and schemes of the Agriculture Department on the mobile.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also launched the Kharif Mahabhiyan-2025. He flagged off promotional and seed vehicles which will educate farmers about Kharif crops and techniques. LED publicity vehicle was also launched which will make farmers aware through audio-video.
CM Nitish Kumar inspected the Krishi Bhawan and directed to install solar panels on the rooftop so that the energy needs of the building can be met from solar energy. He also stressed on keeping the campus clean and environment-friendly.
A video film on agriculture road map and departmental achievements was also presented at the end of the programme. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Housing Minister Jayant Raj and other senior officials were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister was presented with a logo and a green sapling by the Agriculture Department and also planted a sapling in the premises.